The Best Z-Wave Outdoor Motion Sensor Available Today

There are many different ways to manage and secure your home. After all, many new wireless home security systems have been popping up over the past few years and Z-Wave is one of the most popular. With Z-Wave, you can quickly make your home safe and secure thanks to the help of Z-Wave outdoor motion sensors, door sensors, and cameras!

Not only can Z-Wave keep your home safe, but it can also help you save some significant amounts of energy. There are so many different benefits to Z-Wave, and as the technology continues to grow in popularity, more uses and perks will find their way into our daily lives.

Before learning more about the benefits of this upcoming technology, it’s important to understand a little bit more about how it works.

What is Z-Wave?

Much like WiFi, ZigBee, and Bluetooth, Z-Wave is a way for different devices to communicate with one another. Z-Wave devices receive information and direction from a Z-Wave hub, so if you wanted to control a light, you could use your phone, tablet, or computer to send a command to your hub which would then relay the command to the light switch.

A lot of these devices depend upon a “If this, then that” style of coding - For example, “If I leave the house, then the lights will turn off” or “If I return home, then the garage door will open.” These cues sync up between the different devices, so they'll run when you need them too. They can also be overridden using a number of devices such as a cellphone or tablet if you decide you want to "scene" to run earlier or not at all.

Z-Wave allows for complete and total control of your home. From the lights to the garage door to even th﻿﻿﻿﻿e thermostat, Z-Wave gives you a revolutionary view on home management.

One of the most popular uses of this new technology comes in the form of home security. That's because many sensors come in the Z-Wave variety, such as door sensors, tilt sensors, motion sensors, locks, and more!

How Can Z-Wave Help?

Now that we know what Z-Wave is and how it works, let’s focus on how it can help make home automation much simpler.

Imagine driving home after a long day of work and as you pull up to your garage door, it opens without you having to fumble with the opener. When you make your way inside your home, the kitchen lights light up and the temperature is set to a comfortable and perfect 74 degrees. All of that and more is possible with the use of Z-Wave!

In addition to just making life simpler, Z-Wave can also make your house safer. Imagine being able to see what’s happening at your front door at all times. Or, knowing your belongings are safe during a vacation. Z-Wave home automation can make that a reality.

Not only are security cameras available, but motion detectors, door locks, and entry sensors are all Z-wave capable products currently on the market. When any of these devices are triggered, you can be notified immediately or you could have your system notify the proper authorities instead, given you complete peace of mind.

By using Z-wave motion sensors and security systems, you are completely in charge of your home security system. You don’t have to take the one-size-fits-all approach that many home security systems offer to customers. You are in complete control and you can customize your system however you want. If you want to have a sensor on every window, you can do that.

Additionally, you can spend whatever you want without being locked into crazy high prices. And, the best part is that you’re not paying a ridiculous monthly fee. Z-Wave can help you save money and keep your home safe.

The biggest benefit of Z-Wave home automation is the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is safe and secure.

A Look at Z-Wave Outdoor Motion Sensors

The benefits of having a Z-Wave system are immense. Now, it’s time to find the best ways to keep your home safe with a Z-Wave outdoor motion sensor.

Many people use motion sensors inside their homes, but the challenge is finding a good way to watch for motion outdoors. There are some outdoor Z-Wave motion sensors available, but it is a fairly limited group of devices and the reviews on them are not all that appealing.

Many regular Z-Wave motion sensors can work outside, but it’s best if those motion sensors (and cameras) are kept under awnings and away from the natural elements. The last thing you would want is for any of your outdoor devices to break while you’re away.

Your Options For Z-Wave Outdoor Motion Sensors

Unfortunately, there is only one Z-Wave outdoor motion sensor available currently: The Aeotec Z-Wave Gen5 Multi-Sensor. So, there's no real need to compare it to anything, but here is the information on this device.

Others feel like it is great for the price and works well with the different Z-Wave hubs available, so it's definitely something you would have try out and see if it worked for your system. Fortunately, Amazon has a great return policy, if you decide that this Z-Wave outdoor motion sensor doesn't work for you.

Features​

4 in 1 sensors built in. You can detect motion, humidity, temperature, and light sensitivity.

Uses Z-Wave Plus, so the range and reliability are great!

Features IP42 waterproofing for outdoor use.

What Others Say

Customer Review

I purchased this device though The smartest Houses's store on Amazon.com. I purchased the device to use on my Smartthings hub V2. Since the device it not yet officially supported by Smartthings I had to learn how to add a device handler and find the code to use in the device handler. Once I had the device setup I found the device to be very accurate on humidity and temperature but I had a lot of problems with the motion sensor. The device is set to wake-up once an hour to report to the hub. Every time the device would wake-up to report in, it would report motion. This made the device useless as a motion sensor. I ended up returning the device as it just wasn't working for me. It's a great device but I won't be buying anymore until Smartthings officially supports the device.

Conclusion​

Other Options

Another option for a Z-wave outdoor motion sensor is to get a regular ﻿Z-Wave motion sensor and stick it under an awning or porch. There's no guarantees the device would survive like this, but I currently use a PIRZWAVE2-ECO on my porch and I have yet to have any issues.

Alternatively, if you have wifi cameras set up outdoors, you can usually set them up as motion detectors, which can then be integrated into your Z-Wave network. The ability to set up your cameras like this will vary by hub and camera, so I would suggest checking out your hub's community forum to see if that would work for you.​

As Z-Wave continues to gain in popularity, more products will become available. Until then, it is imperative to be creative when finding the perfect Z-Wave product to fit your needs. Some products might be used for other things while others might have to be modified to fit your home automation needs.

Conclusion

Z-wave is a great way to monitor and protect your home. Whether you are trying to use Z-Wave automation to decrease a costly electric bill or replace a home security system with Z-Wave outdoor motion sensors and other sensors, there is a definitely a Z-wave product available, or at the very least a way to integrate it into your Z-Wave system.

There are other types of home automation technologies, but there is a reason why Z-Wave is the most popular. It’s availability, ease of use, and low cost make Z-Wave the way to go for all of your home automation needs.

zwavezone.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking from “Z-Wave Zone” to Amazon (amazon.com, or endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, or AmazonWireless.com).